Emerson Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Emerson (NYSE: EMR) today announced that net sales for the first quarter
ended December 31, 2012, increased 5 percent from the prior year to $5.6
billion. Underlying sales grew 6 percent, as currency translation and
divestitures together deducted 1 percent, with the U.S. up 6 percent,
Asia up 6 percent, and Europe down 2 percent. Sales reflected mixed
results across end markets, and favorable comparisons from the supply
chain disruption in the prior year. EBIT margin of 13.1 percent improved
160 basis points, as volume leverage and cost reduction benefits offset
unfavorable product mix. Pretax margin expanded 170 basis points to 12.1
percent. Earnings per share of $0.62 improved 24 percent from the prior
year.

“The pockets of growth our businesses
captured were encouraging even though the level of total investment in
our end markets continues to be slow. Recent order trends suggest market
conditions have stabilized and may be poised for improvement,
particularly in the emerging markets.”

“Results for the quarter reflected solid performance amid what remains a
challenging and uncertain global economy,” said Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer David N. Farr. “The pockets of growth our businesses
captured were encouraging even though the level of total investment in
our end markets continues to be slow. Recent order trends suggest market
conditions have stabilized and may be poised for improvement,
particularly in the emerging markets.”

Operating cash flow of $554 million grew 66 percent from the prior year,
reflecting earnings growth and lower working capital growth. Capital
expenditures of $115 million declined compared with the prior year by
$15 million. Free cash flow of $439 million increased 115 percent,
reflecting conversion from earnings of 97 percent.

“The growth in cash flow provided an excellent start to the year and was
consistent with our expectation for strong receivables collection during
the quarter,” Farr said. “As suggested by lower capital expenditures, we
remain guarded with investments until economic visibility improves. At
the same time, we are investing in key strategic programs to ensure we
are well-positioned when global economic growth accelerates.”

Business Segment Highlights

Process Management sales increased 24 percent, as robust growth
resulted from global energy investment and favorable comparisons from
the supply chain disruption in the prior year. Underlying sales
increased 24 percent as well, with the U.S. up 26 percent, Asia up 25
percent, and Europe up 11 percent. Large project activity remained
strong, while higher-margin maintenance investments slowed, particularly
in the U.S., as customers became more cautious with capital budgets.
Segment margin of 17.6 percent expanded 520 basis points, primarily
driven by volume leverage. Continued investment in the oil and gas,
chemical, and power industries is expected to support solid end market
demand in the near term.

Industrial Automation sales declined 7 percent during the
quarter, as industrial investment in capital goods remained weak.
Underlying sales decreased 6 percent, as currency translation deducted 1
percent, with the U.S. down 7 percent, Asia down 7 percent, and Europe
down 9 percent. The electrical drives and power generating alternators
and industrial motors businesses reflected the most pronounced weakness,
which was partially offset by strength in the hermetic motors business
driven by HVAC compressor demand. Segment margin of 14.4 percent
contracted 40 basis points, primarily due to volume deleverage. In the
near term, demand is expected to remain under pressure, especially in
Europe and in the power generating alternators business.

Network Power sales decreased 2 percent, as telecommunications
and information technology end market weakness persisted. Underlying
sales also declined 2 percent, with the U.S. flat, Asia down 3 percent,
and Europe down 8 percent. End market demand was mixed within the
network power systems business, with strength led by the uninterruptible
power supply business in North America, and weakness most severe in
Europe. Sales were unchanged in the embedded computing and power
business. Segment margin of 7.2 percent decreased 100 basis points,
primarily due to volume deleverage and unfavorable product mix, but
remains on track for solid improvement in 2013. Order trends support the
expectation for improving market conditions in the near term for the
network power systems business, led by increased investment in
telecommunications end markets.

Climate Technologies sales grew 2 percent, reflecting growth for
the first time in six quarters. Underlying sales increased 3 percent, as
currency translation deducted 1 percent, with the U.S. up 1 percent,
Asia up 7 percent, and Europe up 2 percent. Segment margin of 13.4
percent declined 20 basis points, as strong growth in Asia and
improvement in the U.S. primarily came from lower-margin residential air
conditioning end markets. Global refrigeration demand remained weak,
particularly in the transportation business. Growth is expected to
continue in the near term with an outlook for steady demand in
residential end markets in Asia and the U.S., and potentially continued
improvement in Europe.

Commercial & Residential Solutions sales declined 1 percent,
reflecting a 5 percent deduction from the Knaack business divestiture.
Underlying sales grew 4 percent, driven by a 7 percent increase in U.S.
sales, which was supported by strong demand in residential end markets,
in particular the food waste disposer business. Segment margin of 21.5
percent expanded 30 basis points, primarily driven by cost reductions
and the divestiture mix benefit. Recovery in North America residential
end markets is expected to continue in the near term.

Outlook

Business investment remains slow and cautious globally, particularly in
Europe, but there have been indications of thawing demand in certain
markets. Visibility remains challenging, but based on current market
conditions, reported and underlying sales in 2013 are expected to grow 2
to 5 percent, with EBIT margin expansion of 10 to 20 basis points1.
Earnings per share are expected to be between $3.53 and $3.63, with the
continued expectation that 70 to 80 percent of the growth will occur in
the first half of the year. Business segment forecasts for 2013 will be
provided at the annual investor conference next week in Columbus, Ohio.

Today at 2:00 p.m. ET, Emerson management will discuss first quarter
results during an investor conference call. Interested parties may
listen to the live conference call via the Internet by visiting
Emerson’s website at www.Emerson.com/financial
and completing a brief registration form. A replay of the conference
call will remain available for approximately three months after the call.

Emerson will host its 2013 Investor Conference in Columbus, Ohio,
beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET on Monday, February 11, and ending at 1:00
p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 12. Management will provide a company
overview and a detailed review of Emerson Network Power, including tours
of two nearby facilities. Access to a webcast of select conference
material, as well as related presentation slides, will be available by
visiting Emerson’s website at www.Emerson.com/financial
at the time of the event. A replay of the webcast and the presentation
slides will be available for approximately three months after the
conference.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

Statements in this release that are not strictly historical may be
“forward-looking” statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, and
Emerson undertakes no obligation to update any such statements to
reflect later developments. These risks and uncertainties include
economic and currency conditions, market demand, pricing, protection of
intellectual property, and competitive and technological factors, among
others, as set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K and subsequent reports filed with the SEC.

TABLE 1

EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS

(AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE, UNAUDITED)

Quarter Ended December 31,

Percent

2011

2012

Change

Net sales

$

5,309

$

5,553

5

%

Costs and expenses:

Cost of sales

3,254

3,346

SG&A expenses

1,354

1,394

Other deductions, net

90

86

Interest expense, net

58

54

Earnings before income taxes

553

673

22

%

Income taxes

172

207

Net earnings

381

466

22

%

Less: Noncontrolling interests in earnings of subsidiaries

10

12

Net earnings common stockholders

$

371

$

454

22

%

Diluted avg. shares outstanding

738.3

726.9

Diluted earnings per common share

$

0.50

$

0.62

24

%

Quarter Ended December 31,

2011

2012

Other deductions, net

Amortization of intangibles

$

58

$

59

Rationalization of operations

23

16

Other

11

11

Gains, net

(2

)

-

Total

$

90

$

86

TABLE 2

EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)

Quarter Ended December 31,

2011

2012

Assets

Cash and equivalents

$

2,076

$

2,527

Receivables, net

4,040

4,556

Inventories

2,317

2,308

Other current assets

642

695

Total current assets

9,075

10,086

Property, plant & equipment, net

3,415

3,503

Goodwill

8,723

8,068

Other intangible assets

1,893

1,798

Other

338

316

Total assets

$

23,444

$

23,771

Liabilities and Equity

Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt

$

1,578

$

1,912

Accounts payables

2,302

2,431

Accrued expenses

2,484

2,648

Income taxes

170

212

Total current liabilities

6,534

7,203

Long-term debt

4,041

3,542

Other liabilities

2,509

2,408

Total equity

10,360

10,618

Total liabilities and equity

$

23,444

$

23,771

TABLE 3

EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)

Quarter Ended December 31,

2011

2012

Operating activities

Net earnings

$

381

$

466

Depreciation and amortization

204

206

Changes in operating working capital

(293

)

(204

)

Other

42

86

Net cash provided by operating activities

334

554

Investing activities

Capital expenditures

(130

)

(115

)

Other, net

(10

)

(19

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(140

)

(134

)

Financing activities

Net increase in short-term borrowings

666

424

Principal payments on long-term debt

(250

)

(264

)

Dividends paid

(294

)

(297

)

Purchases of treasury stock

(244

)

(113

)

Other

(48

)

(8

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(170

)

(258

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents

-

(2

)

Increase in cash and equivalents

24

160

Beginning cash and equivalents

2,052

2,367

Ending cash and equivalents

$

2,076

$

2,527

TABLE 4

EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES

SEGMENT SALES AND EARNINGS

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)

Quarter Ended December 31,

2011

2012

Sales

Process Management

$

1,527

$

1,896

Industrial Automation

1,229

1,137

Network Power

1,495

1,459

Climate Technologies

733

752

Commercial & Residential Solutions

457

453

5,441

5,697

Eliminations

(132

)

(144

)

Net Sales

$

5,309

$

5,553

Earnings

Process Management

$

190

$

333

Industrial Automation

182

164

Network Power

122

105

Climate Technologies

100

101

Commercial & Residential Solutions

97

97

691

800

Differences in accounting methods

49

50

Corporate and other

(129

)

(123

)

Interest expense, net

(58

)

(54

)

Earnings before income taxes

$

553

$

673

Rationalization of operations

Process Management

$

5

$

3

Industrial Automation

4

5

Network Power

10

4

Climate Technologies

2

1

Commercial & Residential Solutions

2

3

$

23

$

16

TABLE 5

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial
Measures

The following reconciles Non-GAAP measures (denoted by *) with the
most directly